Icing on the Cake

CHAPTER 10

***

Eisley

I ease down on the brake when the light ahead turns yellow. I glance in the rearview mirror as I slow to a stop, making sure the boxes filled with decorated tiers of cake haven’t shifted. Transporting decorated cakes makes me nervous and perhaps a bit over-cautious, but with time constraints, I didn’t have a choice but to decorate and box each layer ahead of time. The venue for tomorrow morning’s wedding has a walk-in fridge to store the cakes so I can stack them quickly in the morning. Since it’s a morning wedding, I’ll be finished in plenty of time to spend the evening with Beau.

Beau and I have been inseparable for the last couple of weeks. I hoped to change his mind about the licensing issue, but we’re still hashing out ways to compromise. He still isn’t completely convinced everyone is as meticulous as I am in the kitchen. But we both agree on something–we love spending time together. That includes in the kitchen and the bedroom. If I were a conniving person, I’d bribe him the old-fashioned way–with S.E.X. But who am I kidding? I can’t get enough of the man, and using my feminine wiles as a tool or weapon is just wrong in my book.

We don’t have to agree on everything to get along and respect each other. But I still think there’s room for both of us to compromise. I want everyone to have an opportunity to follow their dreams, but there will always be someone out there who’s just trying to make a fast buck and game the system. And I do want the food supply chain to be safe for everyone who puts their trust in small home bakers.

Luckily, business has picked up in the few weeks since the Town Hall meeting. I think the issue has raised community awareness, and more people are rallying to support local, small businesses. That’s the idealist in me. The uptick in business could be due to end-of-school parties, an unprecedented number of weddings and baby showers, or maybe Lady Luck is shining her light on me. Whatever it is, I’ll take it.

I’ve sure lucked out in the love department with Beau, though neither of us has said the “love” word aloud. It feels too soon for that, and I don’t want to jinx what we have. What we’re experiencing can’t be real, deep down, true love, could it? Love doesn’t happen that fast for anyone, does it?

The light turns green, and I accelerate into the intersection with one eye on the road and one in the rearview. Horns blast and the high-pitched screech of slamming brakes send my flight or fight hormones into action. I turn my head in time to see a metal bumper and hood crumple against the passenger side door. My body lurches as I slam the brake pedal to the floor. The impact derails my equilibrium and sends my car careening across the intersection. Seconds spin into an eternity as I slide, unable to stop until a light pole halts the car’s momentum.

I sit in shock with my hands glued to the steering wheel. My pulse races as I choke down one jagged breath after another. Knuckles wrap at my window as someone tries to open the locked door. I’m frozen for a moment, still in shock from the impact.

“Ma’am, you okay? Can you move?” I turn my head toward the voice. A man’s head peeks into the broken back passenger-side window. “If you can unlock that door, we’ll get you out of here.”

I nod and glance past the man to the back hatch covered in frosting, cake crumbs, and crumpled boxes. My fingers tremble, and my heart sinks to my stomach.

Strangers help me from the car and give their accounting of the accident to police. A car ran the red and plowed into the side of my car. Luckily, they hit the passenger side, clipping the back of the car. Otherwise, the accident could have been worse.

As soon as the paramedics finish looking me over, I call Beau. Each ring feels like an eternity. My mind floods with worry and desperation as I wait for him to pick up. As soon as he does, my throat tightens and a floodgate of tears streams down my cheeks in relief.

“The cake is ruined,” are the first words out of my blubbering mouth.

“You’re crying. Are you okay?” Concern fills his voice. “Tell me what happened.”

“I was delivering the cake,” I sniffle. “A car ran the light and hit me.” I swallow the knot welling in my throat. “The cake is ruined.”

“The cake? Eisley, are you hurt, bleeding, anything broken?” Beau’s voice tightens with worry. “Where are you?”

I shake my head, sobbing, as he says all the right things. Am I hurt? Do I need to go to the hospital? Can he come get me? He doesn’t ask about anything except my well-being, which only makes me cry harder and tremble more. Beau cares about me beyond the bedroom and outside of work.

Beau arrives shortly after the tow truck. He bounds from his car and hurries to my side, holding me securely yet gently in his arms. I crawl into his lap and wrap my arms around his neck, nuzzling into the safety of his arms.

“I’ve got you, baby. Anything you need. I’m here.” He presses his lips to my forehead and rocks me in his arms until I stop shaking, and my tears dry up. “Let’s get you home. Can you get to your feet?”

I nod, and Beau helps me up from the curb. He wraps his arm around my waist and half carries me to his car. He settles me safely into the passenger seat before climbing behind the wheel.

“Can you stop by the store before taking me home?” He’ll think I’ve suffered a brain injury or worse, but my day’s already ruined. I don’t want tomorrow’s wedding to be ruined too. “I need to get ingredients for another cake.”

“You’re not considering baking cakes, are you?” Just like I thought, he thinks I’m nuts.

I nod anyway. “Please?”

His eyes soften, and he strokes my cheek with the back of his finger. “I said I’d do anything you need.”

He places the car in drive, and I’m a little unsettled by the vehicle’s movement. I guess I’m in more shock than I thought. But one thing’s certain, I’m no longer undecided about the speed of love. There isn’t a shadow of a doubt in my mind that what I feel for the man beside me is pure, unadulterated love.

***

Beau

It took every ounce of restraint to not panic when Eisley called about the accident. I couldn’t get to her fast enough. The only thought spinning through my head was, what would I do if I lost her? We’ve had so little time together, but enough for me to know I never want to be without her.

When I pulled up to the scene and got a firsthand look at her mangled car, I knew it was a miracle she survived. The bastard who hit her doesn’t realize what a lucky son of a bitch he is that the police got to him first.

The paramedics checked her out, but for the life of me, I can’t figure out how she came through that mess without a scratch on her body. Though she’s resilient, scars and bruises aren’t always visible. I’ll be her rock. Whatever she needs, I’ll provide it.

I wrap my hand around hers while we drive across town, grounding myself to her. My pulse continues to race as I push horrible thoughts of what could have happened from my mind.

Cake. She wants cake.

It’s irrational considering what she’s been through, but I understand her sense of obligation to her clients. Hell, she’s been saving the day since we locked eyes at Tom and Grace’s wedding. Compassion and empathy run deep in her soul.

“What are we doing here?” Eisley asks as I pull into Sapphire Bakehouse’s parking lot. She ruffles her brow, confused.

“We’re decorating cake.” I bring her fingertips to my lips and kiss each fragile one, grateful she wasn’t taken from me. “We can’t let your client down.”

I unlock the front door and lead Eisley through the dining area to the kitchen. Her breath catches in her throat as we step through the double metal doors. The restaurant kitchen takes up as much space as her entire apartment.

“This is my dream kitchen.” She releases my hand and runs her palms along the stainless steel countertops and rows of state-of-the-art equipment. “Are you sure we can bake in here? It’s so clean and...” her eyes widen. “This place is huge.”

I chuckle, pleased she’s happy. Her footsteps echo against the tiled floor as she inspects each appliance, mixer, and, ultimately, the large walk-in pantry. I follow closely behind her, watching for faltering steps or any indication that she might have a delayed reaction to the accident, but she rallies as if the crash never happened.

“How many tiers and what flavor was the cake?” I ask as she scans the shelves of ingredients.

We keep a supply of frozen crumb-coated cakes in the freezer for emergencies. It saves us time when someone books a last-minute party. It’s hard to believe so many people forget to order a cake for a special event in their life.

“It was simple. Vanilla with buttercream.” Eisley glances at me, her eyes still red and glossy from the tears she shed earlier. My heart pinches. I never want her to feel an ounce of pain or fear. “Five layers.”

“We’ll have it finished in no time.” I gently tug her hand and lead her to the large walk-in freezer. I open the heavy door, and a blast of cold air hits us as we walk in. “You can pick the cakes you need from our stock.”

Eisley spins as she takes in the shelves lined with frozen meats, veggies, fruits, and house-made desserts. When her gaze finally meets mine, tears prick at the corners of her eyes. She hurls herself at me and wraps her arms around my body, burying her head into my chest.

“Thank you, thank you,” she repeats with a choked, shaky breath. She glances up at me with a smile that makes my heart sing. “I’ll make this up to you. Promise.”

“There’s nothing to make up for, baby.” I brush a lock of hair from her brow and soak in her features. Her gold-flecked hazel eyes are the first thing I want to see each morning and the last thing I want to see each night. “This is what people do when they love someone.”

She blinks as if stunned, but her smile never falters. “You love me?”

“I do,” I say softly. “I think I have from the first moment I saw you.”

“Well, there was mistletoe,” she snickers. “And then I threw myself at you. The things a girl has to do to get your attention.” She tsks and shakes her head.

“I was afraid I’d lose you today.” I gather her closer in my arms. “You’ve got my attention. Now you’re stuck with me.”

She tips on her toes and whispers against my lips as she gazes at me. “I love you, Beau. You loving me back is all I need.”